Switch from AA to Cathay?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Switch from AA to Cathay?
Hi - I am currently an American Exec Plat and travel to HK frequently. I am considering switching to Marco Polo. Does anyone have any experience with that?
As an entrepreneur, I always fly coach. The biggest perk for me is upgrades. Since AA has no service to HK, I am often on Cathay flights and will never get upgraded.
My question - if I got to Marco Polo can I expect upgrades on long haul flights?
As an entrepreneur, I always fly coach. The biggest perk for me is upgrades. Since AA has no service to HK, I am often on Cathay flights and will never get upgraded.
My question - if I got to Marco Polo can I expect upgrades on long haul flights?
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
I don't fly to expected to be upgraded. If you want to be seated in premium cabins, then pay for that seat - whether it is through cash or FFP points. Any thing beyond that is just a bonus.
P.S: Do you even earn any AA miles when you travel CX in Y??!
P.S: Do you even earn any AA miles when you travel CX in Y??!
#5
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,169
martyman25, welcome to the board!
As others have mentioned - do not 'expect' upgrades. Unlike AA, these are not space-available, rather only in cases where the cabin is overbooked. That said, CX does overbook a fair bit.
AA has far better earn-burn ratios and status is harder to come by on CX. You can earn AA miles by booking the same flight as AA codeshares, or in the higher fareclasses (if booking under CX flight number).
On the flip side, being a CX elite will give you accecss to AA lounges on wholly domestic-US itineraries with AA. Overall the experience in Y on CX will be better as a CX DM, rather than as an AA Exec Plat.
Also, CX's seat guarantee in coach on "V" and higher fares (@72h notice for GOs and 24h notice for DMs) will come in handy, especially during peak travel periods - might be a factor if cost is a real issue. (And the likelihood of an upgrade will be higher then as well).
If you do move over, there would be no harm in asking CX if they can give you some sort of status to start off. AA Exec Plat + travel history with CX (show that to them), should get you atleast silver (which gets you lounge access when travelling CX, and excess to priority seats), and if you're lucky maybe GO. But you will get these benefits in any case as an AA elite.
As others have mentioned - do not 'expect' upgrades. Unlike AA, these are not space-available, rather only in cases where the cabin is overbooked. That said, CX does overbook a fair bit.
AA has far better earn-burn ratios and status is harder to come by on CX. You can earn AA miles by booking the same flight as AA codeshares, or in the higher fareclasses (if booking under CX flight number).
On the flip side, being a CX elite will give you accecss to AA lounges on wholly domestic-US itineraries with AA. Overall the experience in Y on CX will be better as a CX DM, rather than as an AA Exec Plat.
Also, CX's seat guarantee in coach on "V" and higher fares (@72h notice for GOs and 24h notice for DMs) will come in handy, especially during peak travel periods - might be a factor if cost is a real issue. (And the likelihood of an upgrade will be higher then as well).
If you do move over, there would be no harm in asking CX if they can give you some sort of status to start off. AA Exec Plat + travel history with CX (show that to them), should get you atleast silver (which gets you lounge access when travelling CX, and excess to priority seats), and if you're lucky maybe GO. But you will get these benefits in any case as an AA elite.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
martyman25, welcome to the board!
As others have mentioned - do not 'expect' upgrades. Unlike AA, these are not space-available, rather only in cases where the cabin is overbooked. That said, CX does overbook a fair bit.
AA has far better earn-burn ratios and status is harder to come by on CX. You can earn AA miles by booking the same flight as AA codeshares, or in the higher fareclasses (if booking under CX flight number).
On the flip side, being a CX elite will give you accecss to AA lounges on wholly domestic-US itineraries with AA. Overall the experience in Y on CX will be better as a CX DM, rather than as an AA Exec Plat.
Also, CX's seat guarantee in coach on "V" and higher fares (@72h notice for GOs and 24h notice for DMs) will come in handy, especially during peak travel periods - might be a factor if cost is a real issue. (And the likelihood of an upgrade will be higher then as well).
If you do move over, there would be no harm in asking CX if they can give you some sort of status to start off. AA Exec Plat + travel history with CX (show that to them), should get you atleast silver (which gets you lounge access when travelling CX, and excess to priority seats), and if you're lucky maybe GO. But you will get these benefits in any case as an AA elite.
As others have mentioned - do not 'expect' upgrades. Unlike AA, these are not space-available, rather only in cases where the cabin is overbooked. That said, CX does overbook a fair bit.
AA has far better earn-burn ratios and status is harder to come by on CX. You can earn AA miles by booking the same flight as AA codeshares, or in the higher fareclasses (if booking under CX flight number).
On the flip side, being a CX elite will give you accecss to AA lounges on wholly domestic-US itineraries with AA. Overall the experience in Y on CX will be better as a CX DM, rather than as an AA Exec Plat.
Also, CX's seat guarantee in coach on "V" and higher fares (@72h notice for GOs and 24h notice for DMs) will come in handy, especially during peak travel periods - might be a factor if cost is a real issue. (And the likelihood of an upgrade will be higher then as well).
If you do move over, there would be no harm in asking CX if they can give you some sort of status to start off. AA Exec Plat + travel history with CX (show that to them), should get you atleast silver (which gets you lounge access when travelling CX, and excess to priority seats), and if you're lucky maybe GO. But you will get these benefits in any case as an AA elite.
1) More Exccess Luggage
2) F Class lounge access and check in
3) And maybe higher opup prioroty than SL (if he does get comp - but as he mentioned he travels in Y Class - so prob not likely will get comp anything).
4) Better earn and burn of FFP
5) More Oneworld recognition if travelling on other Oneworld partners.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
For the most part it sounds like AA will be the program for you, for the reasons others have stated. AA also offers a lot more non-BIS earning in the U.S. As long as you're booking AA codeshares on the CX flights or are willing to shell out for Y, B or H. For the upgrades, op-ups may be a far more remote possibility and you can't upgrade with AA miles on CX. But AA's burn rate for straight-out redemptions on CX is supposed to be pretty good.
But... jagmeets raises a good point about the seat guarantee. I've found that to be an extremely valuable benefit. If you often have trouble getting booked on the CX flights you want or have to book more expensive fares when cheaper ones are sold out, this can make a difference.
But... jagmeets raises a good point about the seat guarantee. I've found that to be an extremely valuable benefit. If you often have trouble getting booked on the CX flights you want or have to book more expensive fares when cheaper ones are sold out, this can make a difference.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
Regarding the Guarantee seat booking, yes it is one of the most generous perks out there, but will be fly enough to even make Gold (need 30000+60000).
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Hi - I am currently an American Exec Plat and travel to HK frequently. I am considering switching to Marco Polo. Does anyone have any experience with that?
As an entrepreneur, I always fly coach. The biggest perk for me is upgrades. Since AA has no service to HK, I am often on Cathay flights and will never get upgraded.
My question - if I got to Marco Polo can I expect upgrades on long haul flights?
As an entrepreneur, I always fly coach. The biggest perk for me is upgrades. Since AA has no service to HK, I am often on Cathay flights and will never get upgraded.
My question - if I got to Marco Polo can I expect upgrades on long haul flights?
#14
formerly gemini573
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: LAX, HKG, and BKK
Programs: CX Emerald, WOH Globalist, Marriott Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, Virtuoso, Prive, STEPS, STARS
Posts: 2,233
Granted, the redemption rates aren't as good as AA and the taxes on redemption tickets are higher but as a DM, i've been taken care of MUCH MUCH BETTER than an AA Emerald.
#15
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SEA
Programs: All Around Nobody
Posts: 861
Of course the only reasonable expectation the OP can have, regardless of with whom they are flying, is that they can expect to be flying in the cabin for which they have paid. However, there is a greater probability of being upgraded on AA as one can use instruments, whereas with CX, they are by all accounts infrequent and reliant upon other factors (i.e. an oversold cabin).